Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): no spark in my McCulloch chain saw, starter rope, compression gauge

Question
Mac model #MS42, type 42 cc MS1436NAV Saw is almost new, it was given to me, the starter cord was broke, I repaired it and tried to start, there is O fire at the plug, the starter rope pulls hard and rough. If you think I need to check behind the flywheel, what should I look for, and if this saw was run the first time with unmixed gas would this cause the piston to seize and damage the crank at the keyway at flywheel??? any help would be good, if I had bought this saw myself and damaged it myself I would have taken it to a shop, but it was free and I am not going to spend to much on a repair for a $150.00.   thank you   Don

Answer
Straight gas will ruin the engine.  Did you see any external parts binding when you repaired the starter string?  If no external parts, such as the ignition coil or clutch are binding, then the problem is most likely internal.

You can remove the muffler and visually inspect the cylinder and piston.  If either are rough or scored then there is serious internal engine damage.  If you have a compression gauge you can check the compression.  If the saw has less than 100 PSI then it will most likely not run.

Let me know what you find.
Eric